Grain-shocker.



B. KENT 6L A. AUSTIN.

- G'RAIN SHOCKER. APPLICATION FILED UNE 6. 19,17.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' I INVENTOR ,B6/122 o swf.

WITNEssEs WMZ ArToRNEY WITNEssEs B. KENT & A. AUSTIN.

GRAIN sHocIIEII.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE e. 19|?. '1 ,961,404.. Patented Apr. 2,1918'. I

5 SHEET EET 2.

INVENTOR y w zmof/ dwf/if.

I BY

INVENTOR ATTORNEY N. m mA ,UNM Aww .Aww mmm WMM K.G M w B m.. P A 4 f M. Ax w s 6 m. 2 N if W l W@ AKENT & A. Ausm.

' GRAIN SHOCKER.

om 1 0J 1l. 2, P.. D.. A d m .Lw fa D1 M m E N .N D E L H N o .n A C u P DI A 4. O 4. nl 11 .n0 2 1 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.'

ATTORNEY B.. KENT d2 A. AUSTIN. GRAIN SHOCKER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 191?- Y 19261946@ Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

5 SHEETS`SHEET 5.

INVENToR WITNEssr-:s

ATTORNEY BENNIE KENT AND ATWELL AUSTIN, 0F REDROCK, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE- HALF TO GEORGE NUZUM, 0F WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS.

GRAIN-SHOWER.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, BENNIE KENT and ATWELL AUSTIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Bedrock, in the county ot Noble and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Grain- Shockers, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to grain shocking machines and it has for its object to produce A a simple and effective machine of this class which may be attached to a binder of ordinary conventional construction for the purpose of receiving the bundles that are discharged over the binder table after which such bundles are discharged on the ground in the form of a shock.

The present invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction and operation of the grain receiving cradle whereby the bundles are received, compacted to form a shock, and eventually discharged upon the ground.

A further object of the invention is to pro-v duce a flexible supporting means for the cradle while the latter is in bundle receiving position, thereby avoiding excessive strain on the cradle carrying arm and on other parts ofthe machine.

A further object of the invention is to produce simple and improved means for closing the cradle after a suliicient number of bundles have been Vaccumulated therein.

A further object of the invention is to produce closing slides that are capable of being actuated by the driver or operator of the binderwhen a suiiicient number of bundlesV tuating the same.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con- Speccation of LettersrPatent.

sists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form ot' the invention, it being, however, understood that nolimitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the cradle in receiving position.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the cradle in discharging position.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line H in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 1 and showing the cradle open.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but'showing the cradle closed.

Fig. 7 Y is a sectional detail view taken on the line 7-7 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the clutch members in mesh.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the cradle showing the same closed.

Fig. 10 is a plan View showing the cradle closed.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 in Fig. 7 and showing the cam member and related parts in elevation.

Fig. l2 is a view showing the cam member in elevation and the shaft on which it is mounted in section.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The frame A of the improved machine which is mainly of rectangular form may be made of structural steel or other suitable material with a view to obtaining suiiicient strength without excessive weight. One of the side members of the frame designated by 15 is bolted `or otherwise secured on t-he frame of the binder in the position which is usually occupied by the bundle carrier.

Patented Apr. 2, 1918.

Application filed June 6, 1917. Serial No. 173,211.

ofwillproject slightly beneath the binder.

table'. Mounted onthetable 16 and1projecting upwardly with respect thereto is a bundle turning device consisting of" a rod or bar 16', the same being slightly curved at rits-upperend asindicated at 17", the'pur pose of this device being. ta strike eachV bundle as it is being ejectedfrom the bind "r, near the .head thereof, causing vsaid bundle toturn .end fonend or reversing the same so as to present thebutt. end thereof inthe proper direction.` The platform 16 is prrr` vidfedlat itsfront andrear ends with up standing flanges 18' wliichwill prevent any improperA displacement oflthe bundle. The other side...member 17 carries ground ,enga ging supporting wheels 18 whereby` the weightL ofthe frame, will be` supportedto enable it` to trayel freely over thev ground along with the binder.v

The frame is providedwvith rods19eX- tening transversely between the side membersV 15, 17, said rods serying to constitute a track on which carriages C are mounted for sliding movement. Said carriages will be hereinafter referred to as the cradle closers, y this `term being clearly descriptive of their function. Each of these cradle closers: isi-composed of a wall member 20 having legs 21 and braces 22 thatfare apertured for engagement with the track` rods 19', it being understood that. anti-friction means may be employed wheredesired in order to enable lthe cradle closers to slide freely along the track` rods. Thev opposed faces. of the cradle closers are provided with hooks 28 serving to support a flexible elementor vmat 2-l;whieh may be constructed in any convenient manner of woven wire or any other material possessing sutlicient strength and durability for the purpose of the, invention. 1tL is preferred that e the, material used in the construction of the mat he,fof;a somewhat elastic nature, but this is notessential or absolutely necessary because any material such as sheet metal might be employedf assiuning the same to be sulficientlyl flexible for the purpose. The mat 24k is preferably provided rat., the ends thereofwith eyes or, rings 25 adapted for engagement with the hooks 23. Reti-acting springs26 areprovided forl the purpose of retracting the; cradle closers in the direction of the side members of the frame.

F ulcrullledton the outer side member 17 isa lever 27 the two armsof which are connectedwiththe cradle closers C by rods 28Y whereby, by actuating theV lever, the cradle `closers may be,forced,in the directionof each., other against the tension of the retracting springs, it being evident that when such movement takes place the mat 24: carried.; bythe closers `will be permitted to sag between the same. When 'the closers are retracted by their respective springs, the matwill obviously be. stretch'edo'r. ten--` sioned. The. levera27 may-be mounted on a rock shaft 27 and it may be actuated by the driver of the binder by means of a connectingelement 29 leading from au arm 28 on saidrocl: shaft to a point irri-suitable.

proximity to the, drivers seat, said connecting element being of a flexible nature and the same being guidediniany.4 wellilnlown mannen The cradle B which serves-.ta receive the bundlesl from thebinder to forin the same into a shock andtmcarry the shocle. to the place ofdepositcn the ground, ishingedly connected with ,an `arm 80 said larm ghaving a hub or sleeve 60 whereby it is pivotally mounted on a vstationary,shaft-i 31 supported on Lthe side,members.115,I 17 I ofl the frame. Mounted for rotation :on the shaft, 81. is a sleei'e 61 carrying a pinion 32 meshingwith agear wheel 33* .on 1a shaft Bet .which isbeing constantly` rotated E whenV the `machine is in operation and :which may bedriven many convenient manner.` In the drawings, the said shaft has been shown asconstituting the axle which carries the rearward supportingwheel 1S, saidfaxle. being mountedfor rotatiolrin the frame.A rIhel sleeve 61 con? stitutes a. clutch member-` having i a ratchet toothed face 35 adapted for engagement with the correspondingly toothed face 35` of the hubor` sleeveiGO.. Thesaidhub or sleeve has a limited sliding movement on theshaft 31 and it may loe` thrown in imesh withthe clutch memberby nieansofl ay shipping lever 86, the latter being adapted to be operated by the driver of the binder by means `of a suitably guided flexible ele-V ment` 62A. Within -therhub or sleeve 60. is arranged. a retractingspring G3 abutting at one endonan end lwall, of thehub ou sleeve and at the other! end onadislzor stop member Gawhlch is iXedfon. theshaft 31,

the hub orsleeve 60. being made hollowffor shown in Fig. 3. lt is, however, essential that i wheny the discharging position, is, reachec the clutch faces be immediately placed out of engagement with eachiotherin order that the swinging movement of the arm 30 may be interrupted. For the purpose of automatically accomplishing this, the hub or sleeve 60 is provided at one end thereof with an annular iange 66 forming a chamber or recess 67, said flange having a lug or tooth 68 that extends in the direction of the axis of the shaft 31. Fixed on the shaft 31 is a cam member 69 constructed as best seen in Fig. 12, said cam member consisting of a disk provided at diametrically opposite sides thereof with notches or recesses 7 0, 7l for the passage of the lug or tooth68. These recesses will be so located. that when the cradle carrying arm is in the receiving position indicated in Fig. 2, the recess will be in registry with the lug or tooth 68. Vhen the arm 30 is swung toI theV discharging position shown in Fig. 3, the lug or tooth 68 will register with the recess 71. Moreover, when the cradle carryinoarm is in receiving position, the hub or s eeve'60 will be retracted by the spring 63, and the disk or @am member 69 will be located within the recess 67. Vhemfor the purpose of swinging the cradle carr ing arm to a discharging position, the s eeve or hub 60is moved in the direction of the sleeve 61, the lug or toothGS will pass through the recess 70 of the cam member, the latter being thus positioned externally of the sleeve or Vhub 60 as seen in Fig. 8, the cam member 69 serving, by contact with the lug or tooth 68, to maintain the sleeve or hub 60 in engagement with the Vclutch sleeve 61 until the discharge position is reached; the lug or tooth 68 will now be in registry with the notch 71 of the cam member, aermitting the sleeve or hub 6() to be restore by the action of the retracting spring 63 to the initial position indicated in Fig. 7. A retracting spring 38 is provided which will no-w func` tion to-restore the cradle carrying arm to the receiving position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The cradle B is composed of two shields or side-members 40 each of which is approximately semi-circular in cross section, said shields being, however, tapered in one direction so that when assembled or folded together they will form a truncated conical structure adapted to form a shock of the requisite size. The members 40 are hinged together, and each ofsaid members 1s connected with one end of a spring 41, the tension of which is exerted to open the cradle. Each of the members 40 has adjacent to the hinged edge thereof an arm or bracket 42, said brackets being connected with the members 40 by hinge bolts 43. The arms or brackets 42 are apertured for the passage of a bolt or pivot member 44 whereby they are hingedlyconnected with the arm 30, each of said brackets being provided with a limiting flange 45 'which constitutes a stop member whereby the swinging movement of the cradle with respect to the arm 3() is limited in one direction. The free edges of the members 40 are adapted to be connected Vtogether by a spring latch 46 which is adapted to be actuated to release or unlock the same by a sliding arm or bar 47 which is mounted exteriorly on one of the members 40, said slide being connected with the latch 46 by a Vliexible connection 48. Y The slide 47 is adapted to project beyond the large end of the cradle which is lowermost when the cradle is in discharging position, the parts being so arranged that by contact with the ground the slide will function to release the latch 46, causing the cradle to be thrown open or the members 40 thereof to be swung to an open position by the tension of the spring 41.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. When the device is attached to a binder in position forV operation as herein shown and described it will travel along with the binder and, assuming the cradle to be in bundlereceiving position where it is normally maintained by the tension of the spring 38, the cradle will be supported on the mat 24 which extends between the closers C. The bundles will be discharged from the binder directly into the cradle and when a. sufficient number has accumulated therein `to form a shock, the driver by means of the lever 27 actuates the closers C to move the same toward each other. This will cause the mat 24 to sag under the weight of the cradle and the walls of the closers will now exert pressures on the members 40 of the cradle to close the same together, thereby forming and compacting the shock. This pressure is continued until the latch 46 functions to connect the free edges of the members 40 together. The lever 27 is now released and restored to its initial position by the retracting spring 26 the tension of which will now be exerted to move the closers apart, thereby stretching or tensioning` the mat 24 or tending to produce this result. At the same time the operator by means of the shipping lever 36 throws into gear the clutch mechanism whereby the cradle carrying arm 30 is operatively connected with the constantly rotating sleeve 61, causing the arm and the cradle to swing about the axis of the shaft 31. After the arm 30 has passed an approximately vertical position, the cradle will gravitate to an angular position with respect to the arm, this being due to the fact that the hinge brackets 42 are positioned relatively near the small end of the cradle the preponderance in the weight of which is in the large or lower end. Thus, as the cradle approaches the ground, the

Ain

V of the bundles down, on the ground.r At

this moment, or just before the butt ends of y the bundles touchthe yground,the slide 47 should strike the surface of; the ground, thereby releasing the latch ,andpermitting the members l0 of vthe cradle to swing vopen, thus leaving the shock standing on the iield while the machine advances. Thelprecise moment oir' releasing the latch 46 may readily be determined by making the slide '-'lTof proper length to engage the 'ground at the desired time. At the moment of delivery of. the shock onf the ground, the clutch devicey 35, 35 is thrown out of gear by the means provided ttor the purpose, thereby freeing the arm 30 from the sleeve Gl and permitting said arm together with the cradle to be restored to its initial position on the mat 24 between the closers C under the influence of the retracting spring 38, thus placing` the machine in condition for a repetition of the operation.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a grain shockingmachine, al shock forming cradle comprising two hingedly connected members, and a spring whereby said members are normally maintained in open position, said cradle being provided with a spring actuated latch device whereby the members may be secured in closed relation, and with latch releasing means including a ground engaging slide and a flexible connection.

2. In a grain shocking machine, a swingin'gly supported' arm, a constantly driven rotary element, clutch means for operatively connecting the rotary element with the-shaft to swing the latter, means for releasing the clutch mechanism at a predetermined time, and a shock formingcradle hingedly connected with and carried by the arm, `said cradle comprising two hingedly connected members, each having a bracket hingedly connected therewith, and a pivot member extending through the brackets and also through the arm to connect thecradle with the arm, each ofthe brackets having av limiting flange to limit the swinging movement of the cradle in one direction with respect to said arm. Y

3. In a grain shocking machine, a swingingly supported arm, a constantly driven rotary element, clutch means for operatively.

connecting the rota-ry element with the shaft to swing the latter, means for releasing the clutch mechanism at a predetermined time, and a shock forming cradle hingedly connected with and carried by the arm, said cradle comprising two hingedly connected members, each having a bracket hingedly connected therewith, and a pivot member extending through the brackets and also through the arm ato connect thef cradlefwith the arm, each ofi` the brackets' having-,a limiting flange to f limi-t` the swinging-g` movement of; theg cradle-in one direction -withqrespecty to said arm, f said.;` cradle being oit` taperingl or. conical vformandftlre. brackets recei ving -J the pivot,k member being` positioned relatively near thegsmallend ofpsaidcradle.

LIn a grain shockingfmachinef a swingingly supported arm, a cradlefswingingly supported withand carriedlby said arm, sldable. spring. retracted n cradle closers, y and means for `actuat-ingrthe closers against the tension of the retracting springs to close the cradle on its contents.

5. In a-grain shocking:A machine, a swinginglyy supported arm, a cradle'swingingly connected therewith and carried thereby, said cradle comprising two'hingedly connected membersand an opening springfor the same, slidably supported,springretracted cradle closers, and means for actuating the latter; i Y

i 6. In a grainsh'ocking machine, a swingingly supported arm, a cradle swingin-gly connected therewith and carried thereby, saidcradle comprising two hingedly connected members, an openingspring and a spring actuated latch, slidably supported spring` retracted cradle closers,A and means for actuating. the same to close the cradle until the functioning of the latch.

'7. In a grain shocking machine, a swingingly supported arm, a cradle swingingly connected' therewith and carriedV thereby, said cradle comprising twohingedly, connectedimembers, an opening spring-YA and a spring actuated latch, slidably supported springretracted cradle closers, andmeans for actuating the same to close the cradle until the functioning'of the-latch, said cradle being provided with a latch releasing device comprising a ground engaging slide and a `{iexible connection'. 8. In a grain shocking machine, a swingmgly supported arm, a cradle swingingly connected therewith and carried thereby, said cra-dle comprising `two hingedly connected members, an opening spring and a spring actuated latch, slidably supported spring retracted cradle closers,l and a mat connected with and extended between said closers to support thev cradle.

9. In a grain shocking machine, a swingingly supported arm, a cradle carried thereby, said cradle comprising twov h-ingedly connected members, an opening spring and a spring actuated latch, slidably supported spring' retracted cradlelclosers, means for actuating the closers against thetension of the retractingsprings, and a cradle supportingmat of flexible material.

l0. In a `grainshocking. machine, a swingingly supported arm, acradle carried thereby, l said cradlecomprising two hingedly connected members, an opening spring and a With which the ends of the mat. are conspring actuated latch, slidably supported nected. spring retracted cradle closers, means for ln testimony whereof We aiix our signa- 10 actuating the closers against the tension of tures.

5 the retractng springs, and a cradle 'supporting mat of leXible material, said closers BENNIE KENT. having opposed Walls provided With hooks ATWELL AUSTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

